45

The Fall of the

House of Usher

by Edgar Allen Poe

Definitions

Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
 The Fall of the
House of Usher
Definitions

1. acuity uh KEW uh tee sharpness of perception

,<<acuityuh
Synonyms >> Antonym >> denseness
His acuity in determining the facts made him a good judge.
Derivatives >> acuities, acute, acuteness
2. affinity uh FIN uh tee a likeness, a natural relationship, a kinship
,<<affinityuh
Synonyms >> Antonym >> repulsion
Having suffered himself, he felt an affinity for the homeless.
Derivatives >> affinitive
3. anomalous uh NAHM uh lus out of place, abnormal
,<<anomalousu
Synonyms >> Antonym >> fitting a pattern
Seeing a Toyota in the background of that World War II movie was anomalous.
Derivatives >> anomalously, anomalousness, anomaly, anomalies
4. antiquity an TIK wuh tee the quality of being ancient; ancient times
Synonyms >> Antonym >>
Many scholars spend years studying the records left from antiquity.
Derivatives >> antiquities, antiquitarian
5. apathy AP uh thee a lack of concern or feeling, indifference
Synonyms >> phlegm, stoicism, stolidness Antonym >> enthusiastic devotion
The man looked upon the turn of events with apathy.
Derivatives >> apathetic, apathetical, apathetically
6. desolate DES uh lit deserted, without inhabitants, barren
Synonyms >> Antonym >> populous
Some of the western states have large areas that are desolate.
Derivatives >> desolately, desolateness, desolater, desolating, desolation
7. dirge DURJ funeral hymn, lament
,<<dirgeDURJd
Synonyms >> Antonym >> dance
The music was so morose and solemn that it sounded like a dirge.
Derivatives >> dirgeful, dirges
8. discern deh SURN to differentiate between two or more things
,<<discerndeh
Synonyms >> Antonym >> to ignore; to be oblivious; to
Because of the fog, I was barely able to discern the landing strip. confuse
Derivatives >> discerner, discernible, discernable, discernibleness, discernibly, discernably, discerningly, discernment
9. discord DIS kord lack of agreement, tension, strife
,<<discordDIS
Synonyms >> contention, dissension, variance Antonym >> harmony; agreement
There is a lot of discord in the nation over the issue of abortion.
Derivatives >> discordance, discordancy, discordant, discordantly, discordantness
10. dissolution dis uh LOO shun disintegration, decomposition and dispersion
,<<dissolutiondi
Synonyms >> Antonym >> integration
The dissolution of the partnership caused him much grief.
Derivatives >> dissolute, dissolutely, dissoluteness, dissolutive, dissoluble
11. emaciated eh MAY she ay tid very thin (usually as a result of starvation), wasting away
,<<emaciatedeh
Synonyms >> Antonym >> fat; corpulent
As a result of receiving little food, most prisoners of concentration camps become extremely emaciated.
Derivatives >> emaciate, emaciation

Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
12. equivocal eh KWIV uh kul ambiguous (usually intended to mislead)
,<<equivocaleh
Synonyms >> abstruse, ambiguous, cryptic, enigmatic, obscure, recondite Antonym >> clear; straightforward
His speech was difficult to understand because of all his equivocal statements.
Derivatives >> equivocacy, equivocality, equivocally, equivocalness, equivocate, equivocation, equivocator, equivocity
13. fervid FUR vid ardent, burning, impassioned
,<<fervidFUR
Synonyms >> fervent, passionate, perfervid Antonym >> indifferent
The evangelist is a fervid crusader against sin.
Derivatives >> fervidity, fervidly, fervidness
14. goad GODE to urge on in a negative sense
,<<goadGODEg
Synonyms >> Antonym >> to dissuade
He was goaded by his friends to take drugs.
Derivatives >> goaded, goading
15. hideous HID ee us very ugly, offensive, shocking
,<<hideousHID
Synonyms >> Antonym >> delightful
Some characters in the horror movie had hideous faces.
Derivatives >> hideously, hideousness, hideosity
16. impetuous im PECH oo us violent, hasty, rash, impulsive
,<<impetuousim
Synonyms >> Antonym >> reserved
His impetuous behavior caused him to make many mistakes.
Derivative s >> impetuosity, impetuously, impetuousness, impetus
17. import IM port relative importance, significance
Synonyms >> Antonym >> meaninglessness
The full import of today's events will not be realized for years.
Derivatives >> importance
18. insipid in SIP id boring and stupid
Synonyms >> banal, flat, inane, jejune, vapid Antonym >> spirited and animated; zestful
I am bored by your insipid talk.
Derivatives >> insipidity, insipidly, insipidness
19. interred in TURD buried
,<<interredin
Synonyms >> Antonym >> exhumed; disinterred
He was interred by the avalanche.
Derivatives >> inter, interment
20. malady MAL eh dee a disease or unwholesome condition
,<<maladyMAL
Synonyms >> Antonym >> good health
The poor old woman seems to suffer one malady after another.
Derivatives >> maladies
21. melancholy MEL un kol ee depression of spirits
,<<melancholy
Synonyms >> Antonym >> happiness
After Dad lost his job, he fell into a state of melancholy.
Derivatives >> melancholia, melancholic, melancholiac, melancholically, melancholily, melancholiness, melancholious
22. morbidity mor BID eh tee unwholesomeness and gloominess, gruesomeness
,<<morbiditymo
Synonyms >> Antonym >> wholesomeness
The boy talked about dead people and gruesome things. He soon frightened me with his morbidity.
Derivatives >> morbid, morbidness
23. munificent myoo NIF eh sent very generous
,<<munificentm
Synonyms >> Antonym >> parsimonious; stingy
The munificent gift to the school was appreciated by all of the students.
Derivatives >> munificence, munificency, munificently, munificentness
24. orthodox OR thuh doks conforming to established standards, conventional
Synonyms >> Antonym >> unconventional
The church is founded upon a set of orthodox views.
Derivatives >> orthodoxness, orthodoxical, orthodoxically, orthodoxism, orthodoxly, orthodoxy
25. pallor PAL ur extreme paleness usually relating to the face
Synonyms >> Antonym >> ruddy color
The strange disease left the man with a sickly pallor.
Derivatives >> pallors

Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
26. palpable PAL puh bul tangible, perceptible, easily noticeable
,<<palpablePA
Synonyms >> Antonym >>
I do not see how I overlooked such a palpable miscalculation.
Derivatives >> palpability, palpably, palpableness
27. paradoxical pair uh DOKS uh kul something that appears false or contradictory but is actually correct
,<<paradoxicalp
Synonyms >> Antonym >>
It is paradoxical that a man from the South, Lyndon Johnson, led the fight for the passage of a civil rights bill.
Derivatives >> paradoxicality, paradoxicalness, paradoxology, paradoxality
28. pertinacity pur tuh NAS eh tee stubborn persistence or act of refusing to yield on an opinion or belief
,<<pertinacityp
Synonyms >> Antonym >> vacillation
Because of his pertinacity, the fighter was able to go the entire twelve rounds and win the fight.
Derivatives >> pertinacious, pertinaciously, pertinaciousness
29. ponderous PON dur us very heavy, unwieldy from weight
,<<ponderousP
Synonyms >> cumbersome, cumbrous Antonym >> lightweight
The ponderous furniture was hard to move, and thus became a burden.
Derivatives >> ponderosity, ponderously, ponderousness
30. potent POTE unt powerful, having a strong effect
,<<potentPOTE
Synonyms >> Antonym >> ineffectual
They gave me a potent pain killer to stop the throbbing sensation in my leg.
Derivatives >> potence, potency
31. precipitous preh SIP eh tus marked by great rapidity, haste, or lack of caution
Synonyms >> hasty, sudden, rash; steep, sheer Antonym >> gradual
Her precipitous behavior led her to make silly mistakes. The precipitous slope rose before us.
Derivatives >> precipitously, precipitousness, precipice
32. prodigious pruh DIJ us extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree, great in size, enormous
Synonyms >> Antonym >> puny; minuscule
His prodigious appetite allowed him to eat the entire turkey.
Derivatives >> prodigiously, prodigiousness
33. profuse pruh FYOOS extravagantly abundant, flowing freely
,<<profusepruh
Synonyms >> lavish, lush, luxuriant, prodigal Antonym >> meager
Cutting that artery will cause profuse bleeding.
Derivatives >> profusely, profuseness, profusion, profusive, profusively
34. prostration pros TRAY shun a stretching out due to lacking vitality and being completely overcome
,<<prostrationp
Synonyms >> Antonym >> vitality
During late summer football practices, players sometimes suffer from heat prostration.
Derivatives >> prostrate, prostrator, prostrating
35. protract pro TRAKT to prolong
,<<protractpro
Synonyms >> Antonym >> to shorten
The union hopes to protract the strike in order to force management to settle.
Derivatives >> protractedly, protractedness, pretractible, protraction, protractive
36. quaint KWAYNT unusual in character or appearance
,<<quaintKWA
Synonyms >> eccentric, peculiar, queer, unique Antonym >> ordinary
When we go to New England, we like to stay in a quaint old inn that gives us the flavor of the area.
Derivatives >> quaintish, quaintly, quaintness
37. rend REND to tear violently, to split
,<<rendRENDr
Synonyms >> cleave, rive Antonym >> to unify
He tried to rend the flag as a protest against the war.
Derivatives >> rent, rended, rending, rends
38. reverie REV uh ree daydreaming
Synonyms >> Antonym >> attentiveness
Spring seems to lend itself to reverie.
Derivatives >> reveries, reverist
39. stealthy STEL the acting in a secret and sneaky way--this is a negative term
Synonyms >> clandestine, covert, furtive, surreptitious, underhanded Antonym >> open; indiscreet
The secret organization moves by stealth to gather information on its enemies.
Derivatives >> stealthful, stealthfully, stealthily, stealthiness, stealth

Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
40. sublime suh BLIME exalted, noble, uplifting
,<<sublimesuh
Synonyms >> resplendent, superb Antonym >>
The romantic dinner, which included delicious food, soft music, and a beautiful setting, was simply sublime.
Derivatives >> sublimely, sublimeness, sublimer
41. tarry TARE ee to delay in coming or going, to linger
,<<tarryTARE
Synonyms >> Antonym >> to depart promptly
Please do not tarry; I want you to be here on time.
Derivatives >> tarriness, tarried, tarries
42. tempestuous tem PES choo us turbulent, stormy
,<<tempestuous
Synonyms >> Antonym >> calm
The mayoral candidates had a tempestuous debate in which they exchanged many personal accusations.
Derivatives >> tempestuously, tempestuousness, tempest
43. tenuous TEN yoo us flimsy, barely attached
,<<tenuousTEN
Synonyms >> Antonym >> firm or substantial
His position with the law firm became tenuous when he objected to hiring women.
Derivatives >> tenuously, tenuousness, tenuity
44. trepidation trep eh DAY shun fear, trembling, agitation
,<<trepidationtr
Synonyms >> Antonym >> fearlessness
Since I did not have time to study, I have a lot of trepidation about this examination.
Derivatives >> trepidate, trepidant, trepid, trepidly, trepidity
45. trifling TRY fling not significant, frivolous
Synonyms >> Antonym >> important; significant
Some think that watching MTV is a trifling experience.
Derivatives >> trifle, trifled, trifling, trifles
46. trivia TRIV ee uh insignificant matters
Synonyms >> Antonym >> important matters
The English teacher is looking for substance, not trivia, in themes.
Derivatives >> trivial, triviality, trivialization, trivialize, trivally
47. unobtrusive un ob TRUE siv not readily noticeable, inconspicuous
,<<unobtrusive
Synonyms >> Antonym >> noticeable; obvious
He is very unobtrusive sitting over there in the corner.
Derivatives >> unobtrusiveness, unobtrusively
48. upbraid up BRADE to scold harshly, to reproach
,<<upbraidup
Synonyms >> berate, rail at, revile, vituperate Antonym >> to praise
I must upbraid my son for staying out past his curfew.
Derivatives >> upbraided, upbraider, upbraiding, upbraidingly
49. utter UT ur to express by speaking
,<<utterUT
Synonyms >> Antonym >> to leave unspoken
The teacher told me not to utter another word.
Derivatives >> utters, uttered, uttering, utterance
50. vivacious vi VAY shus full of life, very animated
,<<vivaciousvi
Synonyms >> Antonym >> sluggish
Game shows are looking for vivacious contestants who are fun to watch and who will liven up the show.
Derivatives >> vivaciously, vivaciousness, vivacity
51. vivid VIV id bright, distinct, and clear
,<<vividVIV
Synonyms >> graphic Antonym >> lackluster
I have vivid memories of my trip to Europe.
Derivatives >> vividly, vividness, vividity, vivific, vivificate, vivification, vivifier, vivify
52. wan WAHN very pale and sickly
Synonyms >> Antonym >> full of vitality
I knew that something very serious was wrong by his wan appearance.
Derivatives >> wanned, wanning

Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
 45

The Fall of the

House of Usher

by Edgar Allan Poe

Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
 The Fall of the House of Usher
by Edgar Allan Poe

These words which appear in The Fall of the House of Usher have been identified as words or derivatives of
words that have appeared on past SAT tests. They are listed here in alphabetical order.

1. acuity 14. goad 27. paradoxical 40. sublime

2. affinity 15. hideous 28. pertinacity 41. tarry
3. anomalous 16. impetuous 29. ponderous 42. tempestuous
4. antiquity 17. import 30. potent 43. tenuous
5. apathy 18. insipid 31. precipitous 44. trepidation
6. desolate 19. interred 32. prodigious 45. trifling
7. dirge 20. malady 33. profuse 46. trivia
8. discern 21. melancholy 34. prostration 47. unobtrusive
9. discord 22. morbidity 35. protract 48. upbraid
10. dissolution 23. munificent 36. quaint 49. utter
11. emaciated 24. orthodox 37. rend 50. vivacious
12. equivocal 25. pallor 38. reverie 51. vivid
13. fervid 26. palpable 39. stealthy 52. wan

These words which appear in The Fall of the House of Usher have been identified as words or derivatives of
words that have appeared on past SAT tests. They are listed here in the order in which they appear in the novel.

1. melancholy 14. paradoxical 27. insipid 40. interment

2. hideous 15. affinity 28. trivial 41. impetuous
3. goading 16. discernible 29. palpable 42. tempestuous
4. sublime 17. antiquity 30. dissolution 43. anomalies
5. precipitous 18. stealthy 31. emaciated 44. prodigious
6. acute 19. trepidation 32. apathy 45. protracted
7. malady 20. profuse 33. prostrating 46. tarried
8. munificent 21. vivacious 34. dirges 47. import
9. unobtrusive 22. wan 35. reveries 48. rending
10. orthodox 23. tenuity 36. fervid 49. upbraid
11. trifling 24. pallor 37. desolate 50. potency
12. quaint 25. utterance 38. discordant 51. ponderous
13. equivocal 26. morbid 39. pertinacity 52. vividly

Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
 The Fall of the
House of Usher
by Edgar Allan Poe

Vocabulary Test 1

Directions: Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.

Exercise A

________ 1. acuity a. deserted, without inhabitants

________ 2. affinity b. to differentiate differences in two or more things
________ 3. anomalous c. lack of concern or feeling, indifference
________ 4. antiquity d. disintegration, decomposition and dispersion
________ 5. apathy e. the quality of being ancient
________ 6. desolate f. unwholesomeness and gloominess; gruesomeness
________ 7. dirge g. to be very thin usually as a result of starvation
________ 8. discern h. out of place, abnormal
________ 9. discord i. ambiguous (statements) usually intended to mislead
________ 10. dissolution j. likeness, a natural relationship, kinship
________ 11. emaciated k. funeral hymn, lament
________ 12. equivocal l. sharpness of perception
________ 13. morbidity m. lack of agreement, tension, strife

Exercise B
________ 14. goad n. very generous
________ 15. hideous o. relative importance, significance
________ 16. impetuous p. conforming to established standards; conventional
________ 17. import q. violent, hasty, rash, impulsive
________ 18. insipid r. ardent, burning, impassioned
________ 19. interred s. boring and stupid
________ 20. malady t. extreme paleness usually relating to the face
________ 21. melancholy u. depression of spirits
________ 22. fervid v. very ugly, offensive, shocking
________ 23. munificent w. buried
________ 24. orthodox x. tangible, perceptible, easily noticed
________ 25. pallor y. a disease or unwholesome condition
________ 26. palpable z. to urge on in a negative sense

Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
 The Fall of the
House of Usher
by Edgar Allan Poe

Vocabulary Test 2

Directions: Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.

Exercise A

________ 1. paradoxical a. marked by great rapidity, haste, or lack of caution

________ 2. pertinacity b. stubborn persistence, refusing to yield on an opinion
________ 3. ponderous c. to delay in coming or going; linger
________ 4. potent d. extravagantly abundant, flowing freely
________ 5. precipitous e. very heavy, unwieldly from weight
________ 6. tarry f. daydreaming
________ 7. profuse g. prolong
________ 8. prostration h. something that appears false but is actually correct
________ 9. protract i. unusual in character or appearance
________ 10. quaint j. acting in a secret and sneaky way
________ 11. rend k. stretched out due to lacking vitality and being overcome
________ 12. reverie l. powerful, having a strong effect
________ 13. stealth m. tear violently, split

Exercise B
________ 14. sublime n. not significant, frivolous
________ 15. prodigious o. very pale and sickly
________ 16. tempestuous p. fear, trembling, agitation
________ 17. tenuous q. exalted, noble, uplifting
________ 18. trepidation r. not readily noticeable, inconspicuous
________ 19. trifling s. scold harshly, reproach
________ 20. trivia t. extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree; enormous
________ 21. unobtrusive u. bright, distinct, clear
________ 22. upbraid v. insignificant matters
________ 23. utter w. full of life, very animated
________ 24. vivacious x. turbulent, stormy
________ 25. vivid y. to express by speaking
________ 26. wan z. flimsy, barely attached

Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
 The Fall of the
House of Usher
by Edgar Allan Poe

Vocabulary Test 1

1. l 2. j 3. h 4. e 5. c 6. a 7. k

8. b 9. m 10. d 11. g 12. i 13. f 14. z

15. v 16. q 17. o 18. s 19. w 20. y 21. u

22. r 23. n 24. p 25. t 26. x

Vocabulary Test 2

1. h 2. b 3. e 4. l 5. a 6. c 7. d

8. k 9. g 10. i 11. m 12. f 13. j 14. q

15. t 16. x 17. z 18. p 19. n 20. v 21. r

22. s 23. y 24. w 25. u 26. o

Copyright © 1990 by Sharon Smith and Walter Dewar

Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org